Direct Metal Laser Sintering Design Guidelines

Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is an additive manufacturing process. Parts are built using a laser to selectively sinter (heat and fuse) a powdered metal material into layers.

The process begins once a 3D CAD file is mathematically sliced into multiple 2D cross sections and uploaded into the system. A ceramic blade pushes build material from a powder supply to create a uniform layer over a build piston platform. The laser scanning system literally draws the 2D cross section on the surface of the build material, sintering it into a solid form.

After the first layer is produced, the build piston is lowered and another powder layer is pushed into place using the ceramic blade, and the laser sinters the second layer. This process is repeated until the part is complete. Layer-by-layer manufacturing allows for the direct fabrication of complex parts that would be cost-prohibitive, and often impossible, to produce through traditional manufacturing processes.